Thank you City Council Member Rosie Mendez for arranging our Press Conference Monday on the Steps of City Hall and for Deputy Commissioner Eddie Torres to present us with Mayor de Blasio's Proclamation:

 

"No matter how old we are or where we're from, we've all experienced the irrestible urge to dance. New Yorkers have always showwed off their moves, and the incredible diversity of cultures and customs represented throughout the five boroughs means that those moves could be in any number of different dance styles.  In studios, dance clubs, and festivals across our city, it's not hard to find our talented dancres practicing everything from traditional african dance to the current zumba craze, and today, we will once again celebrate the wide world of dance that unites us all with Dance Parade New York.

The four Grand Marshals span the diversity of dance – they were the renowned ballet choreographer and dancer Carmen de Lavallade, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater Choreographer and Artistic Director Robert Battle, Dancing Wheels founder Mary Verdi-Fletcher, and pioneer of bhangra music in North America, DJ Rekha.

 

While the parade celebrated more than 75 styles of dance, this year, we honored especially the genres of contemporary ballet, Physically Integrated Dance, and dance in the bhangra community. Dance Parade’s Curatorial Committee chair DJ McDonald explained that the honorees were selected due to their “perseverance, impact, contribution, and uniqueness” that they have represented and supplied throughout their formidable careers.